Here is a picture I just got off my Cuddeback. He has a perfect 4 point side and then what appears to be a messed up 3 point side. We have killed some messed up racked deer like this over the last few years on this farm. One of the shotgun hunters killed a very old mature buck that had a very large perfect 4 point left side and then an 8 inch spike with several small kicker points at the base on the left side. Other than that most of the other ones killed out there have been taken when they were 2.5 yr. old. So my question, are these bucks a reason for concern? 10 years ago there had never been a non typical or any messed up racks taken off this land.
Here is another one that I got a picture of last year. The quality isn't great but you can make out something different with his headgear.
Yea I would not hesitate to take the first buck if he walks by me this year. But are these genes that have recently came up a reason for concern?
i don't think you'll find an apparent reason, but it has taken us about 7yrs (and counting) to rid our property of a particular bad gene... I think we'll get it done in the next 2-3yrs and hopefully not see another messed up rack for a while...
I think everyone's right. It needs to be removed from the herd before this years rut starts. What a shame. That would be a real bruiser.
Definetely put him down if you get the chance. We had the same problem a few years ago, but it has gotten alot better.
You MW guys KILL ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That buck is AWESOME!!!!! Yeah, you best take it out .....bad genes ...lol :D
I certainly wouldn't cry "bad genes". He has mass and tine length. Perhaps an injury caused a deformed right side. If he's not the one you want I'd keep him in the breeding population. How many Buck tags do you have? I have a theory that many "management" bucks get shot and justified as doing the herd good.
With as many possibilities as there are for WHY a buck doesn't look typical, you truly can't know until it is too late to matter. Small bucks should NEVER be taken as management deer because age can and often does change their rack makeup. If the buck is mature and messed up, was it injury? Is it worth burning a tag on if you otherwise wouldn't be happy with the deer? If you wait to see if it was an injury, its too late as his genes have now been spread many times over. Culling bucks in a wild setting is a futile task, unless you have a LOT of buck tags and a LOT of time. I say shoot him if you would be happy with him, otherwise let him be to see if it was a simple injury.
There is no doubt I would love to put an arrow through this guy. I have guessed him to be 2.5 yrs old??? Some of you correct me if you think differently, but I would in no way be ashamed to take him. I know an injury can cause some racks to become messed up, but this is just one of I would say 7 or 8 over the last few years that have had a similar makeup to this.
After looking at this guy for probably the 30th time, something else caught my eye. Zoom in on the picture and look at the front of his chest. To me there seems like there could possibly be some kind of mass growing on his chest. The color when compared to the bean field doesn't look right. If I'm not mistaken then this would mean some sort of injury or disease correct?
All I'm sayin' is if that's a 2 1/2 year old, he's a hawse. I don't know about the growth but you could be right. Seems as though it's the same color as his hair. He also has tons of mass for 2 1/2.
I see what you are talking about,it could be a growth and explain the rack. I would say he is older than 2 just my opinion. As for taking the gene out of the herd just remember it takes 2 to tango.:D The bad gene could be on the doe side.